Meet the Team

Dr. Sara Gardhouse is a board-certified specialist in zoological companion animals with over a decade of experience treating exotic species. She has a particular fondness for working with rabbits and amphibians. Dr. Gardhouse earned her veterinary degree from the Ontario Veterinary College, Canada. After graduation, she pursued her passion for exotic animals with an internship in Zoo, Exotics, and Wildlife Medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan, a rotating internship at Kansas State University, and a residency at the University of California Davis.

She achieved board certification first through the American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM), followed by certification from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) in Exotic Companion Mammals. After serving as faculty at both the Ontario Veterinary College and Kansas State University, she relocated to Colorado to join Dr. Bennett at Evolution Veterinary Specialists.

Now, she’s thrilled to launch her own specialty practice—Peak Exotic Animal Veterinary Specialists—bringing expert care for exotic pets to the Colorado community. Outside of work, Dr. Gardhouse enjoys running really long distances in the mountains and swimming, and spending time with her beloved husband and dogs: Dory, Pickles, Duckee, and Alfie.

Dr. Katarina Bennett is a board-certified specialist in zoological companion animals with over a decade of experience treating exotic species. She has a particular fondness for working with ferrets and tortoises. Dr. Bennett earned her veterinary degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada. After graduation, she pursued her passion for exotic animals with an internship in Zoo, Exotics, and Wildlife Medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan (with Dr. Gardhouse!), where she later stayed on as a Clinical Associate for a year.

She went on to complete a residency in Exotic Companion Mammals through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP), becoming board-certified in 2016. After several winters in the Canadian tundra, Dr. Bennett moved to Florida to lead an exotic specialty service at a referral hospital. In 2022, she and her partner relocated to Colorado to enjoy the mountain lifestyle, where she spent three years as a specialist at Evolution Veterinary Specialists.

Now, she’s thrilled to launch her own specialty practice—Peak Exotic Animal Veterinary Specialists—bringing expert care for exotic pets to the Colorado community. Outside of work, Dr. Bennett enjoys hiking, reading, drawing, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her beloved pets: Neil Purrtrick Furis (cat), Bean McTumblr (cat), Stone (dog), Walter (dog), and Dim Sum (Sulcata tortoise).